Development
Prior to World War II, limitations in engine power required each desired military role to be filled with a custom aircraft. Engine power grew dramatically during the early period of the war, roughly doubling in the period between 1939 and 1943. The Bristol Blenheim, a typical light bomber of the opening stages of the war, had two engines with a total power of less than 2,000 hp. The Vought F4U Corsair of 1943 had more power in its single engine, part of a dramatically smaller, simpler, less expensive single-seat aircraft. With less airframe and crew to lift, the extra power of a platform like the Corsair was much greater than the Blenheim, and light bombers quickly disappeared from the skies.
This evolution in power led to many adaptations of existing fighter designs into the fighter-bomber role. Notable examples include the Focke-Wulf FW 190, Hawker Typhoon and Republic P-47 Thunderbolt. In terms of bombing tactics, various types of fighter-bombers used different techniques. Some of them were intended for high-level bombing, some for low-level semi-horizontal bombing, and some even for low-level steep dive bombing (as in case of Blackburn Skua or A-36 Apache).
In some cases larger twin-engine aircraft were also used in the fighter-bomber role, especially where longer ranges were needed in the naval strike role. Examples include the Lockheed P-38 Lightning, Bristol Beaufighter and de Havilland Mosquito. Some Beaufighters had a rear gun manned by the navigator-observer.
Read more about this topic: Fighter-bomber
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